In 2004, the FCC issued a decision that would address public safety interference issues in the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands. In exchange for $4.83 Billion and relinquishing spectrum in these bands, Nextel would receive new spectrum in the 2 GHz band, now primarily used by television stations for electronic news gathering operations. Nextel (now Sprint Nextel Communications) agreed to fund and coordinate the relocation of licensees (broadcasters within the 2 GHz band (1990 - 2110 MHz).

This transition has been progressing on a market-by-market basis recently, with the order of markets jointly determined by broadcast trade organizations (including SBE, MSTV, and NAB) and Sprint-Nextel. Over the past year, manufacturers have begun providing new, digital equipment to Washington DC stations. New FCC License Applications seeking permission to operate with narrower bandwidth, digital signals have recently been filed. Additionally, a number of nearby television markets (including Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, VA and Harrisburg, PA) have completed the transition to digital operation in the new 2 GHz band (2025-2110 MHz). Guest speaker James (Jim) Stanley, Sprint Nextel's Senior Broadcast Engineer (Mid-Atlantic and North Regions), will discuss the process and update us on the recent market transitions.

As this topic is of great interest to all television engineers in the region, we are extending a warm invitation to them, as well as the members of WEBE (the Washington Executive Broadcast Engineers) and SMPTE (The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers).